Don't kid yourself by cutting down on cigarettes

According to new research smokers who believe they are reducing their risk for heart disease by cutting back on cigarettes, are kidding themselves.

The research apparently shows that the difference between a non-smoker and one who smokes one to four cigarettes a day is negligible and both will end up in an early grave.

Researcher Dr. Kjell Bjartveit believes smokers who are led to believe cutting down will be of benefit are being offered false expectations and the only safe way out is to quit smoking entirely.

A study by Norwegian scientists looked at 51,000 men and women aged between 20 and 34, who were grouped into non-smokers, moderate smokers, and reducers -- those who cut their intake of more than 15 cigarettes a day in half as the study progressed.

The participants were assessed for cardiovascular risk factors at the start of the study, and then monitored for an average period of more than 20 years.

The researchers found that smokers who cut their daily nicotine intake in half still had the same chance of premature death.

The death rate of the men who cut back and the heavy smokers were comparable but the women who cut back had a higher death rate then the heavy smokers.

Critics say such studies can be misleading as smokers also tend to lead generally unhealthy lives, have poor diets and do little exercise.

The study is published in the journal Tobacco Control.